Laundry marking machine



June 15, 1948 w. J. KEUPER LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1944 June 15, 1948. w. J. K EUPER 2,443,426

I LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. J. ,KEU PER LAUNDRY MARKING MACHINE June 15, 1948.

5 Sheets-Shget 5 Filed April 5, 1944 WILLIAM JKEUPER Patented June 15, 1948 U N I TED STATES PATEN T OF F ICE LAUNDRY MARKING? MACHINE William J. Keuper, Cincinnati, n0hi0,-assignor to The'National Marking Machine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation-of .Ohio

Application April 5, 194'4,'Serial No. 529,882

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in *a laundry marking machine and has to do, more particularly, withimproved m'eans'for setting the type wheels of such machine, and for retaining them in set positions with-selected type preindicating wheels, that 'isto say, wheels which not only constitute the setting devices but also indicate readily to-the operator the setting-of the type wheels.

Another object-of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient aligning mechanism for retaining the setting andtype wheels in adjusted positions, and'toinsure the alignmentof the selected type at the printing line.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction and economies of operation, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow, In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention .by the devices-and -means set forth inthe following specification.

My invention isclearly defined andpointed out in'the appended claims. A'structure-constituting a preferred-embodiment of-my invention'is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming-a part of this specification, in'which Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view through .a

laundry marking machine embodying myinvention, parts being shown in side elevation and other parts being partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig.1; and showingthe "aligning mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 3-4 (if Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a'sectional viewtaken on the'line "4-4 of Fig. 1, and s'howingthe engagement of the aligning bar with the intermediate gears.

In the drawings, the same 'referencenumerals refer to'the same parts throughout-the several views andthe sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends 'o'f'the section lines.

In general, my invention relates to a laundry marking machine of the type havinga platen, upon which articles to be marked maybe supported, movable to and from printing position and in which, when the platenis' in printing position,

Lit may :be moved toward selected typeto carry the article=thereon againstthetype and take an :impression therefrom. The printing type are mountecl on theperipheries of a plurality of type -wheels,=arrangedparallel to. each other and roitat'ably mounted upon a horizontalshaft. To adjust the type wheels and, thereby, bring. seilected type'tozprinting'position, I provide a'plurality: of setting wheelslikewise rotatably mountiedsparallel to each other on a horizontal shaft, there: being one'setting wheel for each type wheel. These setting wheels are so connected to the type wheels that angularmovement'of a setting-wheel will vcause an equal angular movement of the corresponding type wheel. A simple and convenvil'lllifOIIll, whichthese connections may take, consists of .gears, having the same number of teeth, connected .to the setting wheels and the type wheels-andmeshing with a plurality of in- --.termediate jgears rotatably mounted upon an- :Iither. horizontal shaft parallelto each other and iinsali'gnmentwith the type wheel gears and the setting wheel gears, respectively. The setting wheels :project from the upper portion of the housingof :the machine, in such position that they maybe conveniently manipulated by the .0196131301 :to bring selected type to theprinting position. Thesesetting wheels, preferably, bear onith'eir peripheries indicia corresponding to the .chara'ctersron the printing type, and in the same .angular'relation-to-each other as'are the printing itype. .A sighting bar may be provided extending across the peripheries of the setting wheels,xand having a sighting aperture'therein tthroughiwhich indiciaon the peripheries of said :settingawheelsare visible to the operator. This abar and theindicia will be so located that, when certain'characters are visible through the sighting'aperture,athezprinting.type bearing the corresponding characters will be aligned at printing'sposition. I

iIn-order to lock thersetting wheels and type wheels in adjusted positions, and to make sure th'attthe type-wheels are aligned with the selected printing .:type atnthe printing line, I have provlded'an aligning bar .engageable with'the teeth of theiintermediate gears that transmit motion zfrom thesetting wheels to thetype wheels.- This aligningbar may besupported in arms projecting tirom alframefastened to an aligner shaft. This alignerfzshaft will have an operating handle fixed thereto "outside .of the housing, by which the aligner shaftirnay be conveniently rocked by the 'operatorrtothrow the aligner bar from'engaging to disengagingposition and vice versa. A. spring toggle mechanism is provided which yieldingly holds the aligning bar in either of these two positions.

Referring to the numbered parts of the drawings, the machine has a base 8, from which the frame side members 9 extend upwardly. Secured to said frame side members, or integral therewith, are the housing side members, 40 and H. Each of these has an inwardly extending flange l2 provided with a seat l3, upon which the edges of the housing 14 are seated. As shown in Fig. 1, this housing is cut away at l adjacent the printing position, and the upper portion of the housing is also cut away to permit the setting wheels to project therefrom. The side members, l0 and II, of the housing have their lower edge portions curved inwardly as at l6, adjacent the printing point. The side members, In and l I, are connected by the spacing bars I1 and the parts, I0, H and I4, constitute a housing carried by the frame and enclosing the type wheels, the setting Wheels and the intermediate gearing.

A platen carrier is pivotally mounted on the base 8 and supports a platen 6|, upon which the articles to be marked may be held by the operator while grasping the handles l36, by means of which the platen carrier may be rocked to and from printing position. When the platen carrier is in printing position, the platen 6| will be automatically moved toward the printing type to carry the article held thereon against said type, under control of plungers H11 in the ends of the handles [3%, which are held depressed by the operator while grasping the handles. The platen carrier has a cover 62, with a portion 63 thereof bent upwardly to form a guard. Ears 33 on the platen carrier have sockets formed therein which receive the upwardly projecting posts 96. Included in the connections for supplying pneumatic pressure to operate the platen 6|, is a valve I04 having a control plunger I06, which is depressed, to open valve I04, when the platen carrier is in printing position. The details of construction of this platen carrier, the means for operating the platen, the pneumatic connections thereto and the means for controlling them, are not described or illustrated herein, since they are shown in my pending application, Serial No. 470,052, for Laundry marking machine, filed December 24, 1942, on which U. S. Letters Patent, No, 2,384,035, were granted on September 4, 1945. Certain differences should be pointed out, however, among which is the fact that, in said application, the posts 66 support a combined ink reservoir and ink roller, whereas that is not the case in the machine illustrated herein. The valve I04 is differently located in the machine of the present application, and the plunger N16 is operated by different parts. So far as possible, the reference numerals applied here to parts that :are shown also in said application. Serial No. 470,052, are the same as used for said parts in that application.

A horizontal shaft [8 is mounted in the housing side members If] and II, and extends transversely of the housing. A plurality of type wheels I9 are journaled on said shaft I8, parallel to each other, and each of these wheels has on its periphery a plurality of spaced printing type 20. These type wheels may be lightened by forming the slots 2| therein, a few of which are shown in Fig. l. A gear 22 is fastened to the side of each type wheel I9, coaxial therewith. A horizontal shaft 23 is mounted in the housing side members l0 and H, and extends transversely of the housing. A plurality of gears 24 are journaled on shaft 23, there being one of these gears 2 for each of the type wheels, and each of said gears is in line with and meshes with the gear 22 of the corresponding type wheel. These gears are properly spaced by the sleeves or hubs 25.

A horizontal setting wheel shaft 26 is mounted in the upper portion of the housing, being supported by the housing side member In and II, and a plurality of setting wheels 21 are journalecl on said shaft, parallel to each other, with peripheral portions of said wheels projecting from the upper portion of the housing through an opening formed therein for that purpose. There is one of these setting wheels for each of the type wheels, and each setting wheel bears on its periphery indicia, 23, in the form of characters corresponding to the characters on the printing type Zii, and arranged on the setting wheel in same angular relation to each other as are the corresponding printing type on the type wheel. A gear 29 is fast to each setting wheel El and coaxial therewith, and each of said gears meshes with the corresponding one of the intermediate gears 24. Gears 22 and 29 have the same number of teeth, so that a given angular movement of a setting wheel will produce the same angular movement of the corresponding type wheel. In this way, the type wheels may be adjusted to bring selected type to the printing position by rotational adjustment of the setting wheels, in either direction.

Arms 39, secured to the side members 10 and H of the housing, support a sighting bar 3|, which extends across the peripheries of the setting wheels El, in front thereof, and has a sight aperture 32 therein, through which the indicia on the setting wheels may be viewed by the operator from the front of the machine. This sighting bar is so located, and the indicia are so placed on the setting wheels, that, when certain characters are visible through the sight aperture 32, the setting wheels l9 will be adjusted so that the printing type having the same characters will be aligned at the printing position.

To provide for locking the type wheels and setting wheels in adjusted positions, and for releasing them to permit their adjustment, as well as to align the type wheels with selected printing type in line at the printing point, I have provided an aligning mechanism which comprises a horizontal aligner shaft 34, supported by the housing side members H) and H. One end of this shaft projects through the side member H and has an operating handle 35 secured thereto, by means of which the shaft can be rocked. An aligner frame is provided which includes hub portions 36, mounted on the shaft 34 and secured thereto by set screws 31, and rearwardly projecting arms 38 connected by a crossbar 39. In each of the arms 38, there is formed a threaded socket 463, into which a threaded stud 4| is screwed. These studs can be locked in adjusted positions in the sockets 40 by the lock nuts 42. A block 45 is mounted on each stud 4| between the head 43 thereof, and a collar 44 pinned thereto, and an aligning bar 46 is supported by and extends through these blocks 45. Said aligning bar is of such'length as to extend across the entire set of gears 24, and the blocks 45 are so located with respect to the gears as to fit between certain of them, when-the aligning bar is in engagement with teeth of said gears. Thus, it will be seen that, when the aligning bar is in engaging position, it engages between teeth of all of the in- 5, 5 *iermediate :gears ;24 and :prevents :movement :of type wheels l9 and setting wheels 21. Thesha'ft $4 I can be rocked by the handle 35 to throw-the aligning 1 bar to: the disengaging position, in which the :gears 24, setting wheels 21 and type wheels -t9=are released and freesto rotate.

To provide for yieldingly holding the aligning bar sin .either the engaging I or the disengaging position, I provide an over-center spring toggle mechanism which comprises a pair of bell cranks 41, journaled on hub extensions of the side members l and H, concentric with shaft-3.4. The rearwardly extending arm 48 of each bell crank has a notch 49, whichreceives a stud 50 projecting laterally from arm 36 of the aligner frame, so that said bell cranks are rocked as the frame is rocked to move the aligner 'bar from one position to the other. .The downwardly extending arms '5! of said be11 cranks are forked, and each of the forkarms 52 :has a notch 53, in the lower end thereof. receiving the studs 54 projecting from a pin block 255 slidably mounted on a rod or post 58. "Members .56 are journaled on hub extensions of side members l9 and H concentric with shaft 23, and haveshouldered portions .51 from which the posts iflproject. Springs 9 are mounted on said posts :and compressed between the shouldered portions .51 and the said pin blocks 55. It will be clear that this constitutes a spring toggle mechanismwvhich, in the position shown in Fig. 1,:ho1ds the aligning bar yieldingly in =engagement with the gears, but, when :the shaft 34 ds rocked todisengage the aligning'bar, the toggle mechanism passes over deadcenter so that the springs 59 then act to hold .the aligning bar yieldingly :in the release position.

The operation of this laundry marking machine should be quite apparent from "the description of the parts given above. The articles to be marked are to be held by the operator over the platen 6|, while he grasps the handles 36 and thereby moves the platen carrier to the printing position, in line with selected type which have been brought thereto. The pneumatic mechanism, under control of the plungers I06 and I01, thereupon causes the platen to be projeceted upwardly, carrying the article against the faces of the selected type to take an imprint therefrom. The type, arranged on the peripheries of the type wheels l9, may be brought to printing position by manipulation of the setting wheels 21, which also serve as indicating wheels. Thus, the operator, by manipulating setting wheels 21 Lmtil certain characters show through the sight aperture 32, will adjust the type wheels so that the type bearing the same characters will be brought to the printing line. When this adjustment takes place, the shaft 34 will have been rocked by the handle 35 to disengage the aligning bar 46 from gears 24, and, after the setting has been completed, the handle can be operated to rock the shaft 34 in the other direction until said aligning bar engages with gears 24, which will align the selected type at the printing position, and will also lock both setting wheels and type wheels against movement.

I am aware that the machine described and illustrated herein may be Varied considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a laundry marking machine including a platen on which articles to :be marked may :be supported and means for .moving the platen Ito and from .printing "position, the combination aOf a plurality of type awheels mounted parallel :to each other :for rotation :about :a EhOI'iZOIltfi-l axis, a plurality of setting wheels mounted parallel to each other for :rotation about a horizontal axisfixedrwith relation to said firstaxis, driving connections hetweensaidisetting wheels and said type wheels comprising a plurality of intermediate ggears lrotatable about a horizontal .axis fixed with zrelation to said first and second axes, an aligning bar engageable with the-teeth of said gears to .look the settingandtype wheels in adjusted positions, "means for shifting said bar from gear-engaging to gear-releasing position and. vice -versa, and an over-center spring toggle meohanismacting :to hold the bar yieldingly in either position.

:2. In a laundry marking machine including a platen-on which articles to be marked maybe supported and means for -moving the platen to and from printing position, the combination of a plurality of type wheels mounted. parallel to each other for rotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of setting wheels mounted parallel .to each other for :rotation'abouta horizontal axis fixed with relation to said first .axis, driving oonnections between said setting wheels and said type wheels comprising a plurality of intermediate gears rotatableabout a horizontal axis fixed with relation vtosaid first andsecond axis, an .aligning bar engageable with the teeth of said gears .to lock thesettingand type wheels in adjusted positions, an aligner shaft, a frame secured .to said shaft and supporting saidalign ing bar, an operating handle secured .to said shaft, and an over-center spring toggle .mechanism acting .onsaid frame .to yieldingly hold it in either of two positions.

3. In a laundry marking machine including a platen on which articles to be marked may be supported and means for moving the platen to and from printing position, the combination of a plurality of type wheels mounted parallel to each other for rotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of setting wheels mounted parallel to each other for rotation about a horizontal axis fixed with relation to said first axis, driving connections between said setting and type wheels comprising a plurality of intermediate gears rotatable about a horizontal axis fixed with relation to said first and second axes, an aligning bar engageable with said gears to lock the setting and type wheels in adjusted positions, an aligner shaft, a frame secured to said shaft and supporting said aligning bar, a stud projecting laterally from said frame, an operating handle fixed to said shaft, a bell crank journaled on said shaft and having a notch in one arm thereof receiving said stud, and a spring toggle mechanism acting on said bell crank.

4. In a laundry marking machine including a platen on which articles to be marked may be supported and means for moving the platen to and from printing position, the combination of a plurality of type wheels mounted parallel to each other for rotation about a horizontal axis, a plurality of setting wheels mounted parallel to each other for rotation about a horizontal axis fixed with relation to said first axis, driving connections between said setting and type Wheels comprising a plurality of intermediate gears rotatable about a horizontal axis fixed with relation to said first and second axes, an aligning bar engageable with said gears to lock the setting and type wheels in adjusted positions, an aligner shaft, a frame secured to said shaft and supporting said aligning bar, a stud projecting laterally from said frame, an operating handle fixed to said shaft, a bell crank journaled on said shaft and having a notch in one arm thereof receiving said stud, the other arm of said bell crank being forked, a member oscillatable about the axis of said gears and having a shouldered stud, a pin block slidable on said stud and engaging in notches in the forked arm of said bell crank, and a spring on said stud compressed between said member and said pin block.

5. In a laundry marking machine including a platen on which articles to be marked may be supported and means for moving the platen to and from printing position, the combination of a frame; a type wheel shaft, a setting wheel shaft and an intermediate shaft mounted on said frame, each of said shafts being horizontal and extending parallel to the others but spaced therefrom; a plurality of type wheels journaled on the type wheel shaft and each having a plurality of printing type on the periphery thereof; a plurality of gears journaled on the type wheel shaft and each secured to one of the type wheels; a plurality of setting wheels journaled on the setting wheel shaft, one for each type wheel, each setting wheel having a plurality of indicia on the periphery thereof corresponding to the type on the corresponding type wheel; a plurality of gears journaled on the setting wheel shaft, one for each setting wheel and secured thereto, each gear having the same number of teeth as the gear secured to the corresponding type wheel; and a plurality of gears journaled on the inter mediate shaft, each of said last-mentioned gears meshing with one of said gears on the setting 8 wheel shaft and one of said gears on the type wheel shaft.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which the frame carries a casing having an opening therein through which portions of the peripheries of the setting wheels protrude and another opening adjacent the printing point for permitting said platen to engage type on the type wheels in printing position.

WILLIAM J. KEUPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 424,851 Bradford Apr. 1, 1890 571,485 Knopp Nov. 17, 1896 653,627 Ohmer July 10, 1900 676,904 Miehle June 25, 1901 803,298 Miller Oct. 31, 1905 881,012 Lewis et al. Mar. 3, 1908 907,577 Diehl Dec. 22, 1908 1,017,979 Lang Feb. 20, 1912 1,019,971 Lang Mar. 12, 1912 1,049,908 Pannier Jan. 7, 1913 1,133,731 McCauley Mar. 30, 1915 1,154,002 Crump Sept. 21, 1915 1,183,605 Todd et a1. May 16, 1916 1,242,373 Reinhardt Oct. 9, 1917 1,389,215 Payne Aug. 30, 1921 1,689,708 Wood Oct. 30, 1928 1,728,826 Gruttman Sept. 17, 1929 1,910,400 Marder May 23, 1933 2,078,094 Oelbaum Apr. 20, 1937 2,096,340 Richeson Oct. 19, 1937 2,136,461 Petty Nov. 15, 1938 2,251,354 Gettman Aug. 5, 1941 

